Quiztime(197) What was the promise of Ibrahim(pbuh) made to his father, which was rejected by Allah ?

 

Quiztime(197) What was the promise of Ibrahim(pbuh) made to his father, which was rejected by Allah ?

 

Ans:  Asking Allah for forgiveness to his Father who was mushrik and died as mushrik.

Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me.”[Qur’an ch 19 verse 47]

 “It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.

And Abraham prayed for his father's forgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him: for Abraham was most tender-hearted, forbearing.

[Qur’an ch 9 verse 113-114]

" except the saying of Ibrahim (Abraham) to his father: "Verily, I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah ."

[Al-Qur’an ch 60 verse 4]

Thus, Ibrahim sought forgiveness for his father for a very long time, even after he migrated to Ash-Sham. He continued to seek forgiveness for him even after building the Sacred Masjid (in Makkah) and after the birth of his two sons, Isma`il and Ishaq. This can be seen in his statement,

(Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.) (14:41) From this tradition, during the beginning stages of Islam, the Muslims used to seek forgiveness for their relatives and their family members who were polytheists. They did this following the way of Ibrahim, the Khalil (Friend) of Allah, until Allah revealed,

(Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah.'') (60:4) Until Allah's statement, (Except the saying of Ibrahim to his father: "Verily, I will ask forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah.'') (60:4) meaning, except for this statement, so do not follow it. Then Allah explains that Ibrahim abandoned this statement and retracted it. Allah, the Exalted, says,

(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolaters.) (9:113) (And Ibrahim's invoking for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he is an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Verily, Ibrahim was Awwah, forbearing.) (9:114) 

For more details:

Link :  http://www.recitequran.com/tafsir/en.ibn-kathir/19:47

Link:  http://www.recitequran.com/tafsir/en.ibn-kathir/9:114

  Allaah knows best.

 

By Mohammed Asif Ali. #MohammedAsifAli

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